technostuff

[Benjamin Zimmer]

Some techno-compounds from "Rock's Backpages" (subscription only)...


* techno-rocker (not in OED)

1973 _Rolling Stone_ 24 May (backpages.com) Although that phase of the
band's development was of short duration, Pink Floyd have from that time
been the pop scene's preeminent techno-rockers.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=4358

* techno-rock (OED 1983)

1977 _NME_ 16 July (backpages.com) The pioneers of electronic synthesizer
music, of techno-rock — whatever term you care to use — the archetypal
cerebral German group who sit on stage in darkness operating three huge
banks of computers and synthesizers are actually selling in the soul and
disco market.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=2690

1977 _NME_ 29 Oct. (backpages.com) One moment it's the band in white
intern coats playing straight techno-rock and, my god, you could be
watching Kraftwerk's brothers.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=1294

* techno-flash, n. (not in OED)

1977 _GIG_ May (backpages.com) Technoflash... We do some very simple songs
which are almost banal. Deliberately so to counteract the other side of
the thing. It's a misconception, though, to think of us as technoflash,
though I think that's all changing now anyway.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=1377

1978 _Sounds_ 11 Nov. (backpages.com) Then if they ignore every temptation
to techno-flash and stick to those rhythm and blues you can get out there
and buy your tickets now: minor miracles twice nightly.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=4088

* techno-flash, attrib/adj.

1977 _GIG_ May (backpages.com) Perhaps technoflash rockers are less
competent at the art of self-hype. ... Steve, as a matter of fact,
disagrees totally — as does this writer to a less extent — with the
lumping of Genesis into the technoflash category.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=1377

* techno-babble (OED 1981)

1979 _Creem_ Apr. (backpages.com) Concluding this twisted LP is ‘Thank You
Friends’, a humble bow to those, dedicated few who have shared an
experience beyond the common rabble of techno-babble.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=6144

* techno-disco (not in OED)

1983 _NME_ 27 Aug. (backpages.com) Where the tribal techno-disco of
_Remain In Light_ freed Byrne of his cheap psycollegiate neuroses, the
tongues of _Speaking_ are merely variants on a preset, rigidly unstable
character.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=1169

* techno-rap (not in OED)

1987 _i-D_ Sep. (backpages.com) There’s a time for every mood, and even
the kids into techno-rap may want to step into the cultural museum and
pull out some Mayfield.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=2433

* techno-soul (OED 1991)

1988 _ Virgin Records press release_ (backpages.com) Featuring the
inimitable trumpet of Miles Davis (repaying the group for his cover of
'Perfect Way'), 'Oh Patti' is a gorgeous, silkspun ballad which instantly
puts these masters of techno-soul heaven back in the forefront of
contemporary pop.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=3068

* techno, n. (OED Oct. 1988)

1988 _NME_ 16 July (backpages.com) Techno – a new Detroit sound vibration
– is rocking the House of the future. ... Techno is the sound of America’s
final and complete assimilation of the European sound and the climax of a
fascination. ... Techno, black music with a soul which refers rather to
the passionate commitment of its protagonists, has upturned these things
in a way that House with its allegiance to the Philly Sound never could.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=4254

* techno, attrib./adj. (OED Dec. 1988)

1988 _NME_ 16 July (backpages.com) Via systems dance records like 'Nude
Photo' – a Techno classic embraced by the House scene, and together with
fellow artists like Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, Derrick has invested
his time, money and energy in the future and The Third Wave. ... The past
few years have brought at least 50 records from Detroit’s Techno
innovators and it’s a measure of the strength of the city’s Third Waves
that the combinations of mixers, producers and editors are limitless.
http://backpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=4254


--Ben Zimmer